Ravi Shankar, commonly known as Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, was born on 13 May 1956 in Tamil Nadu, India. He is also frequently referred to simply as "Sri Sri" (honorific) or as Guruji or Gurudev. He is a spiritual leader and founder of the Art of Living Foundation created in 1981, which aims to relieve individual stress, societal problems, and violence. In 1997, he established a Geneva-based charity, the International Association for Human Values, an NGO that engages in relief work and rural development and aims to foster shared global values. For his service, he has received some of the highest awards of several countries including India, Peru, Colombia, Paraguay, etc. In January 2016, he was awarded the "Padma Vibhushan" by the Government of India.
Ravi Shankar was born in Papanasam, Tamil Nadu to Visalakshi Ratnam and R. S. Venkat Ratnam. He was named "Ravi" (a common Indian name meaning "sun") because his birth was on a Sunday, and "Shankar" after the eighth-century Hindu saint, Adi Shankara, because it was also Shankara's birthday. Ravi Shankar's first teacher was Sudhakar Chaturvedi, an Indian Vedic Scholar and a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Bangalore University (St. Joseph's College). After graduation, Shankar travelled with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi giving talks and arranging conferences on Vedic science, and setting up meditation and Ayurveda centres.
Cherry, Cherry
Rozanda was her real name
But Cherry was her chosen one
Everybody said that she'd soon be dead
But Cherry replied "At least I had some fun" (Oh yes)
Her eyes were like a pool of 24 karat diamonds
I was the last in a long line of foolish men who dived in
CHORUS:
Cherry, Cherry
I think about U every rising sun
Whoa Cherry, Cherry
Wherever U are, I hope U're havin' fun (Oh yes)
Tuesday was my big game
North vs. Central in basketball
Underneath their long coats
Cherry and the girls wore camisoles
Every time North would run the hoop
Cherry would flash 'em and they would fall
But not as hard as I fell
When Cherry gave me her number and told me 2 call (U should call me)
Using all the money her boyfriend Wilbur gave her, she'd buy
Anything I wanted, that's why my baby's so fly
CHORUS
(Do do do do do)
Me and Cherry got married
And tried our best 2 keep it on the down low, the down low
I was combing her hair
The day that Wilbur called and cussed her on the phone
He beat her up real bad and figured I was gonna leave her
Instead I bought a 45 and set out 2 relieve her (Take him out)
If he was taken out then he could never harm another
No sooner than I got there, I was met by Cherry's mother cryin'
Cherry, Cherry
Every night I ask the Lord why? Oh why?
Cherry, Cherry
Another victim of a suicide (Why oh why?)
Why?
Cherry, Cherry
I think about U every rising sun
Whoa Cherry, Cherry
Wherever U are, I hope U're havin' fun
I hope U're having fun, baby
Cherry, Cherry
I'd give anything 2 kiss U
Cherry, Cherry
I guess I just miss U